Community volunteer work can energize, inspire students

iTHINK

Sabine DaSilva (third from left), a senior at William Allen High School,… (Contributed photo )

October 15, 2010

It was this time last fall that I began to reminisce about my time spent at the Pennsylvania School for Global Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University in the summer of 2009. I spent five weeks learning about business fundamentals, interacting with the community and working on an intense group project. What impacted me the most was learning about social entrepreneurship.

I started to think about the possibilities for the summer of 2010. Volunteering and social service are my passions, and I had been volunteering in my community for the past two years. But I was dreaming of doing something extraordinary that included international travel.

With just one web search, I found the Global Routes High School Summer Community Service Programs in Africa, Asia, Central and South America. As I browsed through the website, http://www.globalroutes.org, I was instantly drawn to the Nepal program. I applied, was accepted and was awarded the largest scholarship. I was ecstatic! My hard work in and outside of school was paying off.

After two entire days of travel, our group of 15 arrived at our hotel for a three-day orientation. We went on day hikes, and immediately the beauty and poverty of Nepal shocked me. After orientation, we traveled to the place where we would start our eight-day trek. We trekked the national Lang Tang in the Himalayas, eight hours each day. It was extremely tough, but one of the best experiences of my life. Plus our group was getting closer and starting to feel like family. After our descent, we traveled to where we would be staying with our Nepali host family for the next two weeks: a small rural village called Chhahare.

Conditions were extremely basic: taking cold, outdoor hose showers, eating with our hands, living with gigantic insects and wooden beds without mattresses above the chicken, goat and buffalo pen. But I can tell you it was all part of my truly life-changing experience.

Our group's primary project was to build a preschool for the local children. We worked everyday from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., passing rocks, hauling mud, digging, carrying dirt and building stairs — all with our hands. After our workday was over, we went back to our host family for dinner and tried to communicate using a Nepali phrase book.

Many of us do not believe that we have everything that we need to fulfill our lives. We yearn for luxury items and value money over people. Volunteer work can inspire you to give and appreciate more and maybe even improve your daily happiness in our consumer-oriented society.

Our schools provide volunteer opportunities. Our communities are in constant need of volunteers. Getting involved and giving back will inspire you to do extraordinary things. The world is waiting for you, so why not challenge yourself and find happiness along the way?

Sabine DaSilva is a senior at William Allen High School and the class president.